The seemingly mild-mannered Katie Holmes surprised the world - and most of all Cruise - with a carefully executed split which included moving apartments, switching to a disposable mobile phone, changing her security and filing for sole custody of their daughter Suri.

Now an American magazine is reporting that Katie Holmes, 33, sought counsel from Nicole, 45, in an effort to avoid the same fate as Kidman, who now rarely sees the kids she shares with Cruise, 50.

"Nicole has been supportive, saying she's been through it too and to hang in there" the source claims.

The same source reveals Katie that occasionally talked to Nicole during the early stages of her marriage when Nicole called to speak to Connor, 17, and Isabella, 19, and then reconnected again recently.

"She has been a private friend not many people know about,"the insider continued. "She told Katie her life is great now and she has no regrets."

It has to be noted that Tom filed for divorce from Nicole in 2001 after 11 years of marriage and the divoce had a profound effect on her relationship with their two adopted children, who are both hardcore Scientologists like their dad.

Nicole, who now also has two young daughters with her new husband Keith Urban, has hinted at her heartbreak over the distance between them.

Nicole stated in 2010: "They live with Tom, which was there choice. I'd love them to live with us but what can you do."

Isabella revealed earlier this year that she only sees her mother "sometimes'".

As for Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise, they appeared to refer to the religious aspect of their divorce in a joint statement, released, which stated: "We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other's commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other's roles as parents."

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